Back to childhood - the Saab 99 as a designer toy

Saab is not dead. The brand is still parked somewhere in people's minds. And she won't let go of some. Saab as a design toy is nothing new in itself. The Swedish design company Playsam cultivated the design in a very special way for many years. Streamliner and Xtreamliner took up Saab design language and translated it for the showcase. Only in exceptional cases for the children's room. More often, probably for design museums all over the world.

While Playsam relies on high-gloss lacquered, sensitive woods, the French designer Arnaud Frappart from L'atelier de la Libre Roue another way. Its designs resemble indestructible plastic toys that were once sold in Sweden as Saab. At the same time, his Saab are also reminiscent of the historical designs with which the great designer Sixten Sason worked. You can see them today in the showcases of the Saab Museum. Frappart seems to be a big fan of the brand. Because the 99 series is only part of his work in terms of Saab.

Saab 99 as a design toy

He reduces Saab design to what is essential. At Saab, it has always been part of the swing in the C-pillar, the “hockey stick”, for ages. From the Saab 99 to the 900, 9-5 and 9-5, the specific momentum contributed to the recognition value of a Saab. Arnaud Frappart also successfully translated the sturdy vehicle roof, the elk test in Sweden, into toy language.

Saab 99 by Arnaud Frappart

The Saab was originally designed by Sixten Sason

The kink in the C-pillar and the roof are typical

The aircraft cockpit is clearly visible, although both windows and cockpit are missing. A very reduced, successful design, maybe it doesn't make everyone happy. But Saab never did that either. And if Frappart decided to make the world happy with designer toys in Saab design, the Saab would end up on some desks. Some of them maybe even in the nursery.

Radically simplified design language, large spoilers

The finish of the stern also corresponds to the 99

Is the design a toy or a design object?

Saab 99 EMS

The designer provides the Saab 99 with the 99 EMS. The EMS, introduced in 1972, was the brand's top model. The abbreviation stands for "Electronic Manual Special ” and should refer to the electronic fuel injection. Model-specific spoilers made it clear that the EMS is trimmed for sport and speed. Arnaud Frappart takes on the special features in the design draft.

And of course: While two people are out and about in the good family version, the sports driver in the 99 EMS drives fast but lonely through his world. Design ideas, copied from real life.

With images by Arnaud Frappart